Cutting machine



Aug. 27, 1929. 'c, s rr 1,726,369

CUTTING MACHINE Filed April 22. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR QM K ATTORNE ys.

Aug. 27,1929. c. L. SMITH CUTTING MACHINE Filed April 22. 1926 5Sheets-Sheet m "a I a BY 31), "(M *MW/ ATTORNEYS,

Aug. 27, 1929. c. 1.. SMITH 1,726,359

CUTTING MACHINE Filed April 22. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Aug. 27,1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES L. SMITH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSI GNOR TO T. W. & C. B.SHERIDAN COM- PANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CUTTING MACHINE.

Application filed April 22, 1926. Serial No. 103,817.

This invention is a novel cutting machine, for example for cutting pilesof paper, or for trimming or slicing the edges of various materials. Theinvention pertains more particularly to that class of cutting machineeml tt ploying a bed for supporting the material, a clamp adapted toclamp material of varying thicknesses upon the bed. and a cutter orknife making its stroke in cooperation with the clamp.

The general object of the present invention is to improve the operation,efficienoy and convenience of cutting machines of the class referred to.It is already known to pull the clamp down upon the material throughconnections including a rotary friction clutch, which can slip after theclamp has met the material, but known mechanism of this form possesseslimitations in clamping efficiency and degree of pressure, and it is aspecial object hereof to employ friction, or other yielding or recedingresistance, in a novel manner adapted tofafford increased clampingpressure,lhigh efficiency of action, and minimum consumption of power.Further objects are to simplify, strengthen and render more durablecutting machines of the kind referred to. Other and further objects andadvantages of the present invention will be explained in the hereinafterfollowing description or will .be apparent to those conversant with thesubject.

To the attainment of the objects and advantages referred to the presentinvention consists in the novel cutting machine, and the novel featuresof combination, arrangement, operation, construction and detail here--in illustrated or described.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of the machine, with certainparts broken away to show better the construction. Fig. 2 is a rightelevation of the machine, that is, looking from the left of the rearview of Fig. 1, with the side plate and certain other elements brokenaway to show the interior construction. Fig. 3 is a partial top planview, taken partly in section on the line 8-3 of Fig. 2.

In the above figures the .clamping block and cutting block are shown intheir initial or fully elevated positions.

Fig. 4 is a right elevation of the working,

parts of the mechanism, showing them in position with the clamp andcutter down,

the clamp resting on a relatively thin inaterial or pile of papersheets. Fig. 5 is a view. similar to Fig. 4, but showing the positiontaken by the depressed parts with a relatively thick material to be cut.Fig. 6 is'a view similar to Fig. 5, but showing a subsequent stage inoperation, namely with the mechanism partway returned to initialposition.

Fig. 7 is a right elevation showing the preferred resilient construction.of pressure link, as used in Figs. 8, 4 and 5.

The frame may comprise, among other rigid parts, the opposite sideframes 8, each formed with a guide or slot ,9, for the clamp bar to bedescribed, and a guide slot 10 for the cutting head. or bar, guidingthem in their up and down movements. The frame also comprises aconnecting top bar or girder 11, and a cutting bed 12 is rigidlysupported by the opposite side frarnes. It is understood that the bed isadapted to support the material to be cut or trimmed such, for example,as a relatively thin, pile or stack A of paper or other sheets, as shownin Figs. 2 and 4, or a relatively thicker stack B as shown inFigs. 5 and6.

Guided in the vertical slots ,9is the clamp or clamp bar 13,- adapted tobe brought down and held upon the material to be cut so as to clamp itfirmly upon the bed while being cut or trimmed. The cutting blade 14 issecured at the lower inner side of the cutting head or knife bar 15,which is guided in the slots 10; the blade or knife being arranged todescend in face contact with the forward face of the clamp13, the twothus cooperating in the cutting operation. In order togive a shearing orslicing movement to the knife while descending through the paper thereis shown a diagonal link 16 connecting the frame girder 11 and thecutter bar The parts thus far described may be of usual or othersuitable construction and are not herein claimed per se. There alsomaybe a controlling handle 1.7 operating a power clutch of usual type,arranged for example to give one complete rotation of the main shaftsand thereby one complete cycle of movements, with a stop bringing themachine to rest whentheclamping and cutting elements are restored totheir raised or initial position. There may be a fly wheel vthroughwhich the clutch derives power.

A power shaft 18 is shown, which may be driven by the clutch mentioned,under control of the starting handle 17, and from it are driven theother parts of the machine. The power shaft carries a pinion 19 whichengages a gear 20 mounted on a counter-shaft 21 located approximately atthe center of the machine. A pinion 22 is mounted on the countershaftand this engages a gear 23 mounted on one of the main shafts 24 at thefront part of the machine and a gear 25 mount-ed on another main shaft26 near the rear of the machine. The front shaft 24 is employedparticularly for operating the knife or cutter and will be termed thecutter shaft; while therear shaft 26 operates and controls the clamp andwill be termed the clamp shaft. However, the gears 23 and 25 are of thesame diameter, and are driven for convenience from the same pinion 22',so that the shafts turn in unison and constitute substantially a singleactuating means for the coordinated operations of the cutter and clamp.l

The actuation of the cutter bar 15 from the shaft 24 may be as follows.The opposite ends of the shaft carry cranks 30, the pins 31 of whichareengaged by blocks 32, which in turn are swivelled to the yoked lowerends of the rods 33, the rods being adjustable in length and extendingupwardly and provided at their top ends with swivel couplings 34connecting them to the outwardly extending extremities of the knife bar15. By this arrangement a complete rotation of the shaft 24 operates topull the knife bar from the initial raised position of Figs. 1 and 2downwardly until the edge of the knife has passed through the materialto be cut and reached the cutting bed, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5,and then returns the knife upwardly through the intermediate positionshown in Fig. 6 to the initial position.

The clamp or bar 13 may be pulled down by rods 38 pivoted to the ends ofthe bar and at their lower ends mounted directly on a transverse axle39, which may extend the entire width of the machine so as to connectwith both rods 38, as seen in Fig. l. The cross axle 39 may slide in andbe guided by vertical slots 40 formed in the opposite side frames 8, andthe engagement may be by square blocks 41 in which the axle turns, theblocks sliding in the slots 40. By lowering and lifting theaxle 39 witha parallel motion the clamp member will be accurately lowered andlifted.

The mechanism for depressing the axle 39 to depress the clamp upon thepile of paper may take different forms under the principles of thepresent invention, but is shown as comprising a toggle system arrangedin a manner to insure the parallelmovement of the axle, and giving greatpower or thrust- 1,72e,see

in depressing and holding the clamp upon the paper. The toggle device orits equivalent, as will be explained, cooperates with certain otherdevices against which the upward thrust of the toggle is received whenthe clamp is being thrust downwardly. The toggle device may comprise apair of oppo site lower toggle links 42 secured directly on the axle 39,and a complementary pair of upper toggle links 43. The upper ends of thelatter have not fixed mountings but are connected to movable or floatingpivots 44, namely at the ends of short rock arms 45 mounted upon acommon cross axle or rock shaft 46. As Will be explained the rock arms45 do not have an unresisted upward or receding movement when thetoggles are straightening. The lowered or normal position of the rockarms however are determined by fixed stops or lugs 49 (Fig. 6), whichtherefore determine the normal or initial position of the upper togglelinks 43.

The toggle links 42 and 43 are shown in their full bent or open positionin Figs. 1 and 2, and in their straightened or full closed position inFigs. 4 and 5, and in an intermediate position in Fig. 6. The operationof each toggle pair is shown as effected through a rod 47 extending fromthe toggle joint to the pin of an operating crank 48 mounted on andturning with the clamp shaft 26. It will be clear that the revolution ofthe cranks 48 will move the toggle devices and the clamp through theirsuccessive positions; the movements being coordinated with those of thecutter, which descends slightly behind the clamp, so as to commence thecut after the material is clamped.

In accordance with the principles of this invention the forcibledepression of the clamp is brought about by presenting a strong butyielding resistance to the recession of the floating end of the toggleor equivalent device, and for this purpose it is preferred to provideheavy frictional resistance against which the upper end of the toggledevice may thrust upwardly during the operative movement of the toggle,so that the lower end can thrust powerfully downwardly upon the clampand produce a continuous clamping pressure, the yielding resistance orfriction presenting the desired large resistance at the upper end of thetoggle, while able to yield during the latter part of the motion toallow the toggle to be straightened after the descending clamp has cometo a stop upon the compressed pile of paper. I

Such a yielding resistance may be applied to the upper toggle ends asfollows. As stated the rock arms 45 carrying the upper ends oftogglearms 43 are secured to a rock shaft 46. This shaftalso carries otherrockarms 51 which may be substantially parallel with the arms-45a Theremaybe any'num' ber ofseco'ndary rock arms '51, and connected parts, twobeing shown: Extending downwardly from each of the secondary rock armsis shown a connectingl-ink 52 extend ing to a friction member or bar 53,thisbe= ing a generally flat platelike' member an ranged to be movedupwardly and down wardly while subject to friction. The frietion isapplied by opposed-pressure members or blocks. The front frictionpressure block 54 is preferably fixed to the frame, for example by upperand lower extensions 55' and 56. The opposed or rear block .57 is shownmovably mounted, preferablyxso that it can be forced by a parallelmovement against the rear surface of the friction bar 53-; forexample,"an inclinedlink 58 may suspend the lowerendof the block 57 fromthe stationary block 54-.

By apply-ingasqueezing pressure through the friction blocks each of thefriction bars 53 may be held by" any desired degree of strength orresistance, while subject to frictional sliding, or recession for thepurposes mentioned. As many of the friction bars as desired may beemployed, thus-giving unlimited friction resistance, but usually twobars, such as shown, will be sufficient.

It is desirable that the friction or resist ance may be effective atcertain parts of the cycle of movements and'ine'fi'ective at otherperiods. To carry out these purposes the friction pressure may beremoved" at times by the following or other mechanism. The rear side ofeach of the movablepres'sure blocks 57 is formed-with a b0ss '59 towhich is connected apressure rod 60, having at its rear end-suitableguide means, such as a-yoke 61 straddling the clamp shaft 26. A cam studor roller 62' stands out laterally from each pressure rod 60, andtheseare acted upon by cams 63 mounted on and turning with the clampshaft, each cam having a high gportion operating to apply the fullfrictional pressure during the operative stroke of the toggle and clamp,and alow portion wholly relieving the pressure during the return stroke,so that the parts may be freely restoredto initial position.

The slidingfriction bar 53'may consist of a plate of cast iron, or otherhard material, with flat sides, and the opposing pressure members 54:and 57 may be provided with suitable frictional facings 65*, forexampl'e'of leather, fiber, or other non-metallic friction facing, inorderto maintain an effective'anduniform frictional cdopera-tion withthe bar. One of the friction pressure members, for example, thestationary one 54, may be ad'- j-ustable to take wear and regulatepressure by means of a igib 66behi nd the leather facing, which may beadjusted in position by means of back screws 67,.as'indicat1ed iii-Fig.3.

A' resilient'element. may be included. in the'fri'ctionbarpressingmeans. For example, the gi'b' 66' may have short butpowerf'ulresilient backings or springs, determining a-maximum for thefriction pressure, with screw adjustment means behind the springs. Orresilience and adjustment of the .movable friction pressure member 57may bevprovided, for example, as shown in Fig; 7, by a powerful coilspring'68 surrounding the shank of link 60*, and bearing against theseparate head 60 in which the shank 'm'ay slide longitudinally.Adjusting lock nuts=69 determine the amount-{of compre'ssi'ou'of thespring when the pressure is applied and therefore the degree ofpressure; and a light spring 70 may be arranged to"prevent lo'oseness'o'r slack by pulling outward'ly on the pressureblock 57 when the cam 63has relaxed the spring 68, thus keep i-ng cam roll 62"upon the cam. Thisrefers to Figs. 2, 3 and 7. Fig. (ishow's a link 160 withoutspring, butwith screw 71 adjusting its length, and therefore the pressure, withlock nut 72 securing the adjustment.

The cycle of'operation of the described partsmay be substantially asfollows In the initial po'sition'the-c'lamp and the cutter are at thetop of their strokes, and the toggle 42-, 43 is bent or opened toitsfull 'ext'ent, as shown inFigs. 1-, 2 and 3-, and thefrictionjpress'u're is on, that is, the cam" 63 has forced and isholding the pressure member 57 powerfully againstfrie'tion bar 53, thishaving-preferably occurred just before the end of the return movement'of the parts. When power is thrown on and the cutter shaft and clampshaft commence their rotation, counterclockwise in Fig. 2, the'clitterbar' and clamp bar start downwardly; During' this stage each toggle 42,43 isbein'g progressively straightened by the crank 48, and merely drawsor let's down the clamp, theuppe'r end of the toggle being effectuallyanchored. After an extent of movement, which will vary reversely withthe thickness of the pi'1e ofpaper or other material to be cut, theclamp comes down upon and compresses the material. This is a verypowerfirl compressing action due to the straightening of the toggles anddue also to the effectual anchoring of the upper. end of each toggleby'the friction on the bar 53, it being well known that initial orstatic friction is greater than friction between parts in slidingengagement. Immediately after the lower ends of the toggles are unableto lower the clamp any further, and the upperends of the togglesthereupon come into action. The toggle thus has a double action, operating as a spreading device, and pressing apart the elements at its twoends. The rock arms and 51 are thus compelled to rise, resisted by thereceding resistance or friction, which opposes continued high resistancewhile the friction bar 53progressively slips upwardly from its normal orlowered position. The amount of the yielding or reced ing Slip of thefriction bar corresponds with the thickness of the material being cut;slight thickness of material requiring only slight slippage and viceversa; but in each case, throughout the action, the intense resistanceto slip insures continuous powerful toggle depression'of the clamp barupon the work. At the halfway point in the cycle of operations, asindicated in Figs. 4 and 5, the knife has finished its out and thetoggle has closed or straightened to its full extent; the clamp is stillheld powerfullydown upon the work, the friction still being applied,although the slippage has ceased. Immediately after this stage the cam63 Operates through link to slacken the pressure and thus remove orsubstantially release the friction upon the bar 53, the clamp thereafterbeing held down upon the work only by gravity. The continued actioncauses the knife to be moved upwardly by the cranks 30, while the crank48 continues opening or bending the toggle. In the first part of thisaction the toggle operates to let down the friction bar 58 and theconnected rock arms 51 and 44:. It is only after the rock arms come downagainst their fixed stop 47 that this action ceases, with the frictionparts now restored to normal, this stage being shown in Fig. 6.Thereafter the continued opening of the toggle operates to lift theclamp from off the work and to continue its upwardly movement unopposedby friction. Finally the cutter and clamp bars reach normal or elevatedposition, and the clutch thereupon preferably operates automatically tostop the machine, permitting the readjustment ofthe work for a newcutting operation. I In connection, with the clamp there have thus beendescribed the following particular elements each of which is consideredto be novel in itself and in combination with another or others of suchelements. First, the clamp actuating mechanism, consisting of a toggleor other double acting or spreading device which exerts opposite thrustsupon the clamp and the resistance, depressing the clamp with reaction onthe resistance, and later restoring the clamp by power to elevatedposition. By this mechanism the clamp is. causedto come smoothly butsurely andfirmly into place upon the paper stack. The initial pressureof the clamp is by gravity which is promptly followed up by the powerthrust and there is no blow nor possibility of rebound or disarrangementof the material being cut. Second, the receding resistance device in theform of a flat sliding friction bar orv plate, or a plural number ofthem, each of which is shown squeezed between friction blocks, givinghigh but yielding resistance. This device involves preferably a straightsliding movement as the bar is pushed or pulledbetween the pressureblocks. Not only is a higher resistance obtainable with this device thanwith rotary friction devices, but the action is found to be more uniformand reliable. The device is such that it may be duplicated or multipliedso as to increase the resistance without limit, and it operates tomaintain high compressive power uponthe work during the slippage of thefriction and while the knife is cutting the work., Third, the means forapplying and removing the frictional resistance, namely by means of atimed mechanism or cam which applies the full friction at apredetermined point, for the clownstroke of the clamp, and releases itquickly and completely at another predetermined point, namely at the-endof the downstroke, permitting easy and frictionless lifting of the clampby the clamp actuating mechanlsm. 1

. There has thus been described a cutting machine embodying theprinciples and at- 1 taining the objects of the present invention.

Since various matters-of combination, ar-

rangement, operation, construction and de tail ma-yb'e variouslymodified without de parting from 'the principles it is not intended tolimit the invention to such matters except so' far as setforth in theappendedcl'aims. 1 What is claimed is: 1 1. Aflcutting machine having abed for supporting the material to be cut, a clamp and a cuttercooperatively movable toward the bed, and in combination therewith aplurality of slipping friction devices, each having a fixed part and areceding part, and operating mechanism comprising means thrustingthe-clamp toward the bed with simultaneous reaction against the recedingparts of the friction devices, and timed means for applying frictionpressure to the friction devices during the operative stroke of theclamp toward the bed and for removing Such pressure during the returnstroke. a 2. A cuttingmachine asin claim 1 and wherein is a rock shafthavinga plurality of rigid rock armsto'which the receding parts of thefriction devices are connected by links and through which the reactionis appliedthereto. 1 3. A cutting machine having a bed for supportingthe material to be cut, a clamp and a cutter cooperatively movabletoward the bed, and in combination therewith a receding resistancedevice, and 0p 1 crating mechanism for the clamp and cutter comprising aspreading device, comprising a toggle, having both ends movable, one endthrusting the clamp toward the bed while the other end is thrustingoppositely against the receding resistance device.

4:. A cutting machine having a bed for supporting the material to becut, a clamp and a cutter cooperatively movable toward the bed, and incombination therewith a receding resistance device, and operatingmechanism for the clamp and cutter comprising an upright toggle soarranged that while straightening the toggle its lower end thrusts downon the clamp and its upper end thrusts up on the receding resistance.

5. A cutting machine having a bed for supporting the material to be cut,a clamp and a cutter cooperatively movable toward the bed, a recedingresistance device, and operating mechanism for the clamp and cut tercomprising a plurality of toggles having their lower ends connected tothe clamp and their upper ends pivoted in alinement, and arranged tothrust against the resistance device.

6. A cutting machine as in claim 5 and wherein the upper ends of thetoggles are pivoted to floating pivots, rock arms carrying such pivots,and a common rock shaft for said arms.

7. A cutting machine as in claim 5 and wherein the operating mechanismcomprises also a power driven crank and a connecting rod from said crankto the toggles.

8. A cutting machine having a bed for supporting the material to be cut,a clamp and a cutter cooperatively movable toward the bed, a recedingresistance device comprising a friction part sliding under pressureagainst a fixed part, operating mechanism for the clamp and cuttercomprising means thrusting the clamp toward the bed with abutmentreaction against the friction part of the resistance device, and timedmeans putting the resistance device under operative pressure for theoperative stroke of the clamp and releasing it for the return stroke.

9. A cutting machine as in claim 8 and wherein the resistance devicecomprises sliding friction members, and the timed means operates toengage the members under pressure always at the same point and torelease them always at another point in the cycle of operation.

10. A cutting machine having a bed for supporting the material to becut, a clamp and a cutter cooperatively movable toward the bed, areceding friction resistance device, operating mechanism for the clampand cutter comprising means thrusting the clamp toward the bed withreaction against the resistance device; and timed means rendering theresistance device operative for the operative stroke of the clamp andinoperative for the return stroke and consisting of a cam turned incoordination With the operating mechanism, and having connections toapply the resistance for the movement of clamp toward bed, and releasethe resistance for the return movement of clamp, said connectionscomprising a thrust rod adjustable to set the friction pressure of theresistance device.

11. A cutting machine having a bed for supporting the material to becut, a clamp and a cutter cooperatively movable toward the bed, and thecombination, with said elements, of a fixed friction part and a frictionplate arranged to slide in a straight line on the fixed part, pressuremeans squeezing the friction plate against the fixed part, and mechanismthrusting the clamp toward the bed with abutment reaction against thesliding resistance of said plate.

12. A cutting machine having a bed for supporting the material to becut, a clamp and a cutter cooperatively movable toward the bed, a flatfriction bar arranged to slide longitudinally, means applying frictionthereto, and clamp operating mechanism cooperating with said frictionbar whereby after the clamp meets the material the continued action ofthe mechanism may cause the sliding of the bar.

18. A cutting machine as in claim 12 and wherein the friction bar isfitted to slide parallel to the clamp movement, and the clamp operatingmechanism thrusting down on the clamp and up on the friction, and viceversa.

14. A cutting machine as in claim 12 and wherein the friction applyingmeans comprises opposed pressure blocks, timed means for moving one ofsaid blocks into and out of pressing engagement, and means for adjustingthe pressing position of one of said blocks.

15. A cutting machine having a bed for supporting the material to becut, a clamp and a cutter cooperatively movable toward the bed, afriction plate, and mechanism thrusting the clamp toward the bed withreaction against the sliding resistance of said plate, pressure meanssqueezing the plate, comprising a pressure spring, and means foradjusting the pressure thereof.

In testimony whereof, I have affixed my signature hereto.

CHARLES L. SMITH.

